State University, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Department of

Program for BA in Social Work

Academic Degree BA in Social Work

Goal of the Program Based on the mission of , the mission of the BA program in Social Work is to educate professional level social workers who will use the knowledge and skills gained from both general education courses and social work courses for improving social well-being of citizens of , their families and the communities.

The mission of the program serves implementation of following :

 Introducing theoretical knowledge of Social Work to the Students;  Development of standard of competence in Social Work and preparing high qualified Social Work Practitioners;  Integrating professional and academic standards into practice and providing continuous education for social workers;  Prepare high-qualified Social Workers, which will be able to improve the degree of social protection and popularize the profession of Social Work Practitioner.

Program Results: After the completion of the program BA in Social Work the successful graduates will:

 Acquire fundamental knowledge in Social Work; apply theoretical knowledge in the Social Worker’s everyday practice.  Analyze the values of Social Work and their influence on practical activities; apply practice relevant to the Code of Ethics of Social Work.  Strengthen vulnerable groups and social agencies’ users to overcome existing discrimination and pressure in society.  Bring into play social-physiological grassroots of human and group behavior to identify dynamics of inter-human relationships through practice.  Acquire knowledge on relevant legislature and programs relevant to social work and ways of their practical exercise  Have deep knowledge of Social Work methods and their effective implementation in practice.  Have knowledge for effective evaluation of their practice; integrate research findings into practice.

Fields of Employment: After successful completion graduates will have relevant theoretical knowledge and practical skills for working on following social problems:

 Children, Women and Family Welfare;  Ageing;  Human Rights Violation;  Juvenile justice;  Trafficking;  Physical and Mental Disabilities;  Homeless, Economic Instability;  Unemployment; drug-addiction, alcoholism;  Prostitution;

Accordingly, employment perspectives of the graduates of BA program will depended on governmental and non-governmental organizations working in the above-mentioned fields.

Opportunity for Further Education: The Bachelor degree in Social Work is relevant to the education level of Practitioner Social Worker. Interested persons in continuing study in Social Work may apply for participation in the program of MA in Social Work at Tbilisi State University.

The Structure of BA Program

(ECTS 160 Credits)

Subject/Module Name Subject/Module Number of Credit Distribution Status Credits Semesters I II III IV V VI VII VIII (Fall) (Spring) (Fall) (Spring) (Fall) (Spring) (Fall) (Spring) Faculty Curriculum (Total 40 Credits) 1. English Language Compulsory 20 2. Academic Writing Compulsory 5 Introduction Courses in Social Compulsory - 20 Sciences Optional (Note:

 The students are required to select 4 Introduction Courses. However, he/she is not limited to select more than 4 courses;  The length of the introduction course is a semester, but it is delivered during both semesters.

1. Introduction to Political Science 5 2. Introduction to Journalism 5 3. Introduction to International 5 Affairs 4. Introduction to Political 5 5. Introduction to Sociology 5 6. Introduction to Social Work 5 7. Introduction to 5

Major Specialty Curriculum (Total 110 Credits, out of it 35 credits are for Practice Placement, 75 credits are for Courses) I Module: General Practice of Social Work Compulsory 20 1. Foundation of General Practice in Social Work: 5 Knowledge, Values, Skills 2. Work with Individuals and Families 5 3. Work with Groups 5 4. Work with Organizations and Community 5 II Module: Human Behavior and Social Compulsory 15 Environment 1. Human Behavior in Social Environment 10 2. Cultural Diversity and Social Work 5 III Module: Social Work Concentrations Compulsory - 15 Optional 1. Children, adults and families 5 2. Contemporary Social Work Problems I 5 (poverty, homeless, IDP) 3. Social Welfare and International Experience 5 4. Gerontology 5 5. Mental Health 5 6. Contemporary Social Work Problems II 5 (Sexual Minorities, Crime, Aids, Drug-addicted) IV Module: Research Methodology in Social Compulsory 10 Credits Work 1. Research Methods in Social Work 5 2. Research and Evidence-based Practice 5 V Module: Macro-Practice in Social Work Compulsory 15 Credits 1. Legal aspects of Social Work 5 2. Inter-professional Practice 5 3. Social Policy 5 VI Module: Practicum in Social Work Compulsory 35 Credits Practicum is one of the important components for the program BA in Social Work. Various types organizations will be involved in the practicum development, such as:

 Organizations, working in various sectors (governmental bodies and local NGOs);  Organizations, working with various target groups (children, adults and families, older people, retarded people, criminals and etc);  Organization, working with various clients (individuals, groups, families, community)  Various types of Organizations (Residential organizations, day care centers, hospitals and etc)

Notes: The students should earn 875 hours totally, which per year is 291 hours and 10 hours in a week (two days in a week), within the framework of Social Work Practicum (practicum will cover 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 semesters).

Thematic Distribution of working hours for student during practice placement in the organization is follow:

 Face to face work with Client - 2,5 hours;  Case study – 1,5 hours;  Working with Practice Placement Coordinator – 1 hour;  Involvement in organization’s current activities – 1 hour;  Professional development and training – 2 hours;  Self-evaluation – 1,5 hours;  Evaluation of organization – 0,50;

The student defines practice development plan with the Practice Placement Coordinator, which illustrates in details activities led by students in organization. The Practice Placement Coordinator approves the plan.

* * * Besides, above-mentioned tasks major specialty curriculum includes preparation of BA Thesis (ECTS 10 credit).

Distribution of the courses by semesters:

Semesters Courses ECTS credits Course Type I Semester  English Language 5 Compulsory for whole Faculty  2 Introduction Courses 10 Compulsory –Optional for whole Faculty (Fall)

II Semester  English Language 5 Compulsory for whole Faculty (Spring)  Academic Writing 5 Compulsory for whole Faculty 10 Compulsory –Optional for whole Faculty  2 introduction Courses

III Semester  English Language 5 Compulsory for whole Faculty (Fall)  Foundation of General Practice in Social Work: Knowledge, Values, Skills 10 Compulsory for SW specialism  Work with Individuals and Families 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Human Behavior in Social Environment 5 Compulsory for SW specialism 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Practicum in Social Work

IV Semester  Work with Groups 5 Compulsory for SW specialism (Spring)  Work with Organizations and Community 5 Compulsory for SW specialism 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Human Behavior in Social Environment 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Practicum in Social Work

V Semester  Cultural Diversity and Social Work 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Children, adults and families 5 Compulsory –Optional for SW specialism (Fall)  Contemporary Social Work Problems I (poverty, homeless, IDP) 5 Compulsory –Optional for SW specialism  Social Welfare and International Experience 5 Compulsory –Optional for SW specialism 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Practicum in Social Work

VI Semester  Gerontology 5 Compulsory –Optional for SW specialism  Mental Health 5 (Spring)  Contemporary Social Work Problems II (Sexual Minorities, Compulsory –Optional for SW specialism Crime, Aids, Drug-addicted) 5 Compulsory –Optional for SW specialism  Practicum in Social Work 5 Compulsory for SW specialism

VII Semester  Research Methods in Social Work 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Research and Evidence-based Practice 5 Compulsory for SW specialism 5 Compulsory for SW specialism (Fall)  Practicum in Social Work

VIII  Legal aspects of Social Work 5 Compulsory for SW specialism Semester  Inter-professional Practice 5 Compulsory for SW specialism 5 Compulsory for SW specialism  Social Policy 5 Compulsory for SW specialism (Spring)  Practicum in Social Work

Establishing of Social Work Education in Georgia